Ten tips to keep control over your energy bill

The energy bill is an important part of your fixed costs. Due to fluctuating energy prices, the amount you spend on energy can vary greatly. Especially now that more and more energy providers no longer offer fixed contracts (with fixed rates for 1.3 or 5 years) and more people have to deal with variable rates. But what can you do to regain control over your energy bill and what are you entitled to? Read our ten tips for more control over your energy bill.

1. Get insight into your consumption and costs

Check your final bill from your energy supplier to see how much your annual consumption is. Nibud keeps figures of the average expenditure of households for gas, water and electricity. You can see what costs households incur that are similar to yours. How much gas you use, for example, mainly depends on the type of home you live in. The number of people matters less for gas consumption. This way you know whether you are already saving money or whether you can do a little more.

2. Save on your consumption at no cost

Your energy bill consists of two parts: the fixed costs (for supply and network management) and the consumption costs and the taxes you pay on them. You can exert a lot of influence on these costs yourself right away. You can do this by better insulating your home or by replacing appliances that are more energy efficient. But that quickly costs a lot of time and money. You can also save energy for free by changing your behavior. For example, set the thermostat to a maximum of 19 degrees during the day and standard to 15 degrees at night, shower no longer than 5 minutes and wash your clothes less hot. But there are many more tips that will cost you nothing. 

3. Check whether you qualify for the energy surcharge

Low-income households can receive an energy allowance through their municipality. This is an extra contribution to energy costs of a total of € 1,300 per household in 2022. If you receive benefits, you will automatically receive the allowance. But you can also qualify if you have a job. You will have to apply for the allowance yourself. This is possible if your net monthly income is less than € 1,310.05 (single person) or € 1,871.50 (cohabitant), including holiday allowance.

Is €1300 not enough? In that case, ask your municipality whether you can already receive part of the energy allowance for next year. Municipalities are allowed to pay out €500 extra. NB! This will then be deducted from your allowance for next year. 

4. Take advantage of free energy-saving products

Some municipalities also make energy-saving products available free of charge, such as a draft strip, LED lamps, radiator foil, draft tape or a water-saving shower head. They also provide free advice on how to keep rising energy costs in check. Contact your municipality to see what is possible or go to  geldfit.nl/energie  for help in your area by entering your zip code. You will also find local energy coaches on this page.

5. Check your installment amount

More and more people are faced with a variable contract for the supply of electricity and/or gas. This is because the fixed energy contract (with fixed rates for 1, 3 or 5 years) expires and suppliers offer little or no new fixed contracts. If the rate increases, your energy supplier can increase the monthly installment amount you pay. However, they must take into account the temporary price ceiling, which means that households pay less for energy up to a volume limit of 1200 m3 for gas and 2900 kWh for electricity. This price ceiling is expected to come into effect on 1 January 2023. Indication of the rates is a maximum of €1.45 per m3 gas and €0.40 per kWh.

Of course, no one is waiting for a higher monthly amount. However, it is wise not to lower this installment amount. If you have paid too little, you will still have to pay the costs for the supply of gas and/or electricity that you have consumed on the annual final statement. You can also check in the meantime whether your installment amount still corresponds with your consumption. Some energy suppliers offer easy access to this via an app or online login. 

6. Check your energy label

Check whether your current home, or the home you plan to rent or buy, has an energy label. The energy label shows how energy-efficient a home is. A house with a green energy label has the advantage that the energy costs are lower. On the label you will also find information about energy-saving measures that you can take.

Are you a tenant and do you have a low energy label (orange or red)? Then talk to your landlord. He or she is responsible for major energy-saving adjustments to the home. Think of insulating glass (HR++ or triple glass), insulating the floor, the cavity walls and the roof, and replacing the boiler. On the website of the Woonbond you will find more information and a model letter with which you can formally request energy-saving measures from your landlord.

7. Apply for a subsidy for energy-saving investments

You can get a subsidy for energy-saving investments. The central government provides subsidies for insulation and for a solar boiler, heat pump or connection to a heat network. This significantly reduces the consumption costs of your energy bill. There are also municipalities, provinces and water boards that provide subsidies for insulation measures. These local subsidies can be combined with the national scheme. 

You can also borrow money under favorable conditions for energy-saving investments if you do not have enough savings for this, or if you want to keep this for unforeseen expenses. The advantage is that you immediately benefit from a lower energy bill. 

8. Reclaim tax

Until recently, there was also a subsidy for solar panels. This one has been stopped. You can, however, reclaim VAT on the purchase price via the tax authorities. 

9.Compare energy suppliers

In 2022, energy suppliers will offer almost no contracts with a fixed rate and a certain term. This is because energy prices are so high. And because it is uncertain how prices will develop. Nevertheless, it can pay off to compare energy suppliers. Note, for example, the difference in price for fixed costs (management and delivery) and the price for consumption.

If you use little energy, it can be more favorable to have relatively low fixed costs and a higher price per unit of consumption, because you have more influence on this. Even if you generate energy yourself, it is good to check whether the energy supplier pays a reasonable feed-in fee. If you think the compensation is too low, you can switch. Energy suppliers are obliged to offer you a model contract. This is a contract for an indefinite period. The rate of this contract is variable. This means that the energy supplier can raise or lower prices. This usually happens on January 1 and July 1. 

10. Get Help

Als je ondanks bovenstaande tips de energierekening niet kunt betalen, neem dan zo snel mogelijk contact op met je energieleverancier. Die moet je een betaalregeling aanbieden. Hiervoor kun je een voorbeeldbrief downloaden op de website van de ACM.

 If you do nothing and ignore the payment reminders, the supplier will engage a collection agency. This further increases the costs. You can prevent this by acting quickly. If you do not do this, the supplier may under normal circumstances terminate the contract and, in extreme cases, cut you off from energy. That will be more difficult as of October 1, 2022: the government will introduce a temporary ban on shutting down until April 1, 2023. During this period, energy suppliers are not allowed to just shut down households due to non-payment. The condition is that you are in contact with the energy supplier and that you are open to a payment arrangement.

If you have a problem with your energy supplier and cannot resolve it together, please contact the legal counter for free legal advice.